Salt works

Ruins at Old Onslow

(C) Max Jefferies

A jetty of three quarters of a kilometre in length was constructed to cater for the State Ships and Blue Funnel Line which sailed to Singapore. These ships brought in most provisions, building equipment, timber and general merchandise. Exports included wool, pearl shell and minerals. The jetty was badly damaged by a cyclone in 1934 and had to be rebuilt.

Onslow played a part in World War II with the Navy refuelling at the jetty. The town had the dubious distinction of being the furthest town south to be bombed by the Japanese. On the night of May 15 1943 a single plane dropped three bombs on the airstrip with no casualties on the ground or damage to parked aircraft.

The Royal Navy used Onslow as its base between 1952 and 1956 to conduct tests on the nearby Monte Bello Islands. This resulted in the detonation of a test atomic bomb. During the tests, state ships were stopped at Carnarvon and no supplies were getting through to towns further north. There was much relief when supplies started arriving again after a two week delay. Access to the Monte Bello islands is still restricted.

The post war period saw pearling start again, but only in a small way as most luggers were commandeered by the armed forces or destroyed during World War II. The last commercially operating lugger was sold in 1965 and today pearling is only a small industry with the shells farmed for blister and culture pearls.

The jetty continued to serve Onslow until March 1961 when the town was hit by 3 cyclones within three weeks and more than 300 metres of the jetty was destroyed. State Ships were stopped from calling at the jetty and had to anchor offshore where they loaded and unloaded by using a  lighter - a small flat bottomed boat that could navigate shallow water.

Another cyclone struck the town in 1963 and with the threat of yet more storms it was decided that all 86 women and children were to be evacuated and taken to Geraldton.

There were moves by the government to have Onslow removed and a new town developed at Nanutarra, but the remaining residents at Onslow opposed the idea and it never eventuated.

In 1972, the present landing was established in Beadon Creek and the jetty fell into disrepair it was eventually destroyed completely during an Army demolition exercise in 1982.

Onslow's population averages around 880 people, reaching it's peak during the southern winter when many people move to Onslow to escape the colder southern climate.

The town enjoys an idyllic climate all year round (According to the local tourist bureau at least.). From April to September, however, the weather is particularly beautiful making it perfect for many holiday makers.

Tourist attractions include the Goods Shed Museum in the main street.

Sunrise and Sunset beaches surround Onslow with their unique beauty. Visit the lookouts and take in the view of the islands.

The ruins of the Old Onslow town site, the cemetery and remains of the jetty that served the sailing vessels of early this century are well worth a visit, as is the mighty Ashburton River.

Onslow has a hotel with accommodation and meals available, two caravan parks with units and caravans for hire, as well as self-contained chalets and motel style rooms.

Information about Onslow can be obtained from the Onslow Tourist Centre, located on Second Avenue (telephone 08 9184 6644) or contact the Onslow Shire Office.

Onslow remains a small sleepy town and has never become a tourist Mecca like Exmouth. It is 90km off the main highway and for this reason alone many people travelling through the Pilbara just pass by.

It is known by people in the north west as Cyclone City and has experienced more direct hits by these violent tropical storms than any other town along this stretch of coast. It also holds the record for the highest number of sunny days per year of any town in W.A.

One local attraction that hasn’t attracted much publicity but certainly deserves to, is the termite mounds south of the town. We saw more termite mounds per hectare here than anywhere else on our travels. It is am magnificent sight as the sun goes down and deserves the title Termite City.

The Shire of West Pilbara was created in 1972 but it changed to the Shire of Ashburton in December 1987. The towns incorporated in the shire are Tom Price, Paraburdoo, Onslow and Pannawonica. The shire offices moved from Onslow to Tom Price in 1990.

Tall tales & true: Beer in the water (almost).

When a water pipeline was constructed from the Cane River to Onslow there was a problem when the water was turned on and nothing came out at the other end.

An inspection of the pipe found dozens of empty beer bottles lodged in the line. Apparently beer drinkers had taken crates of beer out to the depot where the pipes were being stored before the construction and to hide the evidence of their drinking sessions at night they stuffed the empty bottles into the 4 inch pipes.

It took two weeks to remove the empties from the pipe before water could flow freely.